INDIANAPOLIS — INDIANAPOLIS — Local lawmakers are pushing for more funding to handle emergency calls focused on mental health.
In April, Herman Whitfield III died in IMPD custody.
His family said he was having a mental health episode.
Wednesday, the coroner's autopsy ruled his death a homicide.
"We have to work on how do we fund more IMPD officers that have that training to deal with people with mental health," Rep. Robin Shackleford said.
Shackleford said she plans to help get IMPD and the mayor's office more money in hopes to staff the city's Mobile Crisis Assistance Team (MCAT) and a pilot clinician-led program to address mental health calls in the community.
Right now, MCAT only responds Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
They weren't working the night Whitfield III's parents called 911 for help because that was on a weekend.
"A lot of these issues are happening on weekends on evenings if someone is going to have an episode. So, just make sure we are getting funding for these types of programs and trying to help out the mayor as much as possible," Shackleford said.
Representative Shackleford says she's planning to ask the state to divert some of the $100 million it recently received to expand mental health services for officer training.
-
‘Chaotic’ Fort Wayne shooting leaves 8 injured, 1 woman dead
Eight people were injured and one woman is dead after a shooting in Fort Wayne early Sunday morning, police say.
46-year-old man fatally shot on Indy's northeast side
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting on the northeast side of Indianapolis Sunday morning.
3 young people injured in shooting after Beech Grove fireworks
Beech Grove Police confirmed that three young people were injured, all with non-life-threatening injuries, in a shooting after the fireworks display Friday night.
Politics panel says court rulings have little effect in Indiana
Two members of Indiana’s best political team said they don’t expect the Supreme Court’s transgender athlete ruling to factor heavily into elections this fall.
